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James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
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CHARACTER FACTS-
- After announcing in February 2004 that he would not be returning to the role, Pierce Brosnan was still expressing an interest in making a 5th film, but was considered too old at 53. Having Brosnan return for a fifth engagement as James Bond would have cost the producers $30 million.
- Hugh Jackman was considered for the role of Bond. But Jackman, who was already playing Wolverine in the "X-Men" series, did not want to play two iconic characters at the same time. Other sources claim that his wife and/or manager convinced him it would be bad for his career. And still other sources claim he was never approached at all by the producers, who felt he wasn't appropriate for the role. The truth may never be known.
- James Purefoy did a screen test for Bond but later admitted it was a "disaster" and was glad he didn't get the role, preferring to stay in London with his family. Tabloids claimed Jude Law and Heath Ledger were being considered but the source and veracity of those claims is unknown. Eric Bana was reported once to have signed to play Bond, but Bana himself put out a press release saying it was untrue, and that he had no interest in the role. Rumors claimed that Orlando Bloom was considered to play Bond, but Bloom himself laughed them off and pointed out how absurd they were- Bloom, who was 28 at the time, was obviously far too young for the role.
- Before Daniel Craig was officially announced to play James Bond there were several other actors considered for the part. Producer Michael G. Wilson said that they looked over 200 actors searching for the right one. Some of them were Julian McMahon, Hrithik Roshan, Dominic West and Gerard Butler. Most of them were deemed not appropriate to fit the role, while some others were nothing but media speculation. Goran Visnjic, Sam Worthington, Alex O'Loughlin and Rupert Friend were also considered, while Henry Cavill almost got the part but was considered too young to play it.
- First appearance by Daniel Craig as James Bond. Craig actually rejected the part of James Bond a year before as he had felt that the series had settled into a standard formula. He changed his mind when he read the finished script.
- Daniel Craig's role in the British thriller Layer Cake is said to have been the role that first attracted the attention of Barbara Broccoli regarding him as a potential candidate to be the next James Bond. DVD and video rentals of the movie went up after the announcement Daniel Craig would be the new James Bond. The Bondesque line at the end of the film has Craig say "My name? If you knew that, you'd be as clever as me.", evoking the famous catchphrase "The name is Bond, James Bond". During the selection process, Broccoli saw him in Steven Spielberg's Munich and became totally convinced that he was the right man for the job.
- The announcement of Daniel Craig as the new James Bond was made on October 14th, 2005, aboard the HMS President, in London. On that same day, former James Bond Sir Roger Moore was celebrating his 78th birthday.
- Daniel Craig is the first actor to play James Bond who is younger than the series itself. He is also the first actor to be under the age of forty and play James Bond since George Lazenby, and the first actor to play James Bond in the EON Productions official series who was not cast by founding producer Cubby Broccoli.
- Craig said he was shopping for groceries when he got the call from Barbara Broccoli that he had won the James Bond role. She apparently told him, "Over to you, kiddo." Craig left the groceries behind and celebrated with martinis.
- To prepare for the role, Craig read all of Ian Fleming's novels and talked with Mossad and British Secret Service agents who had served as advisers when he worked on Munich.
- Indian/Bollywood film actress Aishwarya Rai, who was being heavily considered as the lead Bond girl for a possible 5th Brosnan film, was not generally considered for the role of Vesper Lynd despite heavy rumors to the contrary.
- Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron were strongly considered for the part of Vesper Lynd. A Tarantino version of the film would have cast Uma Thurman as Lynd, with whom Tarantino had worked with on the Kill Bill series.
- Eva Green was one of three French finalists for the role of Vesper Lynd. She beat out Cécile De France to land the role, The other finalist, Audrey Tautou, backed out because she was still working and filming The Da Vinci Code. Principal photography was underway when she was finally chosen. With her appearance, Eva Green became the fourth French actress to play the lead Bond girl. The others were Claudine Auger (Thunderball), Carole Bouquet (For Your Eyes Only), and Sophie Marceau (The World Is Not Enough). Corinne Cléry had the role of the second lead Bond girl in Moonraker and has been incorrectly identified on the MI6 site as the 5th French "lead" Bond girl, that honor went to Lois Chiles who is from Houston, Texas, USA.
- Ulrich Matthes was offered the role of Le Chiffre but had to decline due to his commitment to a theatrical production of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover was also considered for Bond villain.
- The villain Le Chiffre, played by Danish actor Mads Mikkelsen, has previously been played by such great screen luminaries in film history as Peter Lorre in 1954 in the telemovie version of Casino Royale and by Orson Welles in the 1967 spoof. Mikkelsen is currently starring in the TV series Hannibal as the title character Dr. Hannibal Lecter. He has been married since 2000 and has a daughter and a son.
- Le Chiffre is a French word which translates into English as either "The Cypher" or "The Number" or "The Figure". Other translations in different languages include "Die Nummer", "Herr Ziffer", "Mr. Number" and "Ochiu Spart", the latter of which is from the Romanian language meaning "Smashed Eye". Ian Fleming is said to have based the character on English occultist Aleister Crowley.
- Solange Dimitrios, played by Sardinian (Italy) actress Caterina Murino, is never mentioned by name in the film. The Bond girl character name of Solange in the film has previously appeared in two Ian Fleming stories. She was the name of the girl in the short story "007 In New York" and a girl named Solange was referenced in the short story, "From A View To A Kill". These stories are included in the "Octopussy" and "For Your Eyes Only" collections respectively. They have the same name but it has not been confirmed whether they are actually the same character.
- Ivana Milicevic, who plays LeChiffre's girlfriend Valenka, was born to Croatian parents in Sarajevo and moved to the U.S when she was five. She had played parts in many movies and hit sitcoms before landing this role. Her brother Tomo is a member of the L.A based alternative rock band 30 Seconds To Mars.
- This is the very first EON Productions official series James Bond movie to feature the James Bond ally character of Rene Mathis, played by Italian film star Giancarlo Giannini. The Mathis character appeared in the original Ian Fleming novel but not in the film version of From Russia with Love. Variations of this character's name have appeared in the 1954 TV version (as Valerie Mathis) and the 1967 spoof (as Inspector Mathis). The character as played by Giannini returns in this film's direct sequel, Quantum of Solace.
- Contrary to popular belief, American actor Jeffrey Wright is not the first African-American to play Felix Leiter- Bernie Casey portrayed him in the unofficial Bond movie Never Say Never Again. It is, however, the first EON production to use this arrangement. A Quentin Tarantino version would have cast Samuel L. Jackson in the role. The character had been missing since 1989's Licence to Kill.
- The style of free-running/movement Mollaka the Bomb-Maker uses in the Madagascar Chase near the beginning of the film is called "Parkour." Sebastien Foucan, who plays Mollaka. is one of the main publicists of Parkour and has appeared in many other media events. In the earliest versions of this film's script, the Mollaka character was known as Two Fingers.
- Tobias Menzies, who plays M's assistant Villiers in the film, plays Bond author Ian Fleming in Any Human Heart. Fleming may have named the character for Amherst Villiers, a British automotive engineer famous for creating the supercharged 4.5 litre Bentley that James Bond drove in his novels, the "Locomotive".
- Jessica Miller, who plays the dealer at the poker game at The Ocean Club, is actually the Poker Room Manager at the Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau, Bahamas.
PRODUCTION NOTES-
- In 1999 Sony paid MGM $5 million to settle the $40 million lawsuit that MGM had brought against Sony because of Sony's intentions to remake Casino Royale. In the resulting settlement Sony agreed to hand over all of its rights to the Bond character and Casino Royale to MGM for $10 million and the rights to Spider-Man. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson didn't secure EON's rights to Casino Royale until 2000. In an ironic twist of fate, Sony bought MGM in 2005, and in 2006 released a new serious adaptation of Casino Royale anyway.
- This is the first official James Bond film to be co-produced by Columbia Pictures, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment; this is a result of Sony's acquisition of MGM along with Bond rights co-owner United Artists. Columbia Pictures had originally co-produced and distributed the unofficial 1967 spoof.
- 21st official James Bond movie in the EON Productions franchise, the first to feature Daniel Craig as James Bond, the fifth to feature Judi Dench as M and its the 23rd James Bond movie overall.
- The first film in the series to show Bond as a rookie in MI6. In all the other films, he had long been a spy.
- A James Bond origin story like this had been touted to be the first Bond film after Roger Moore retired. A first draft screenplay was written where James Bond was a young man in the Royal Navy. However, Albert R. Broccoli rejected the concept believing at the time that the audience wasn't really interested in a young James Bond. This movie has been made and released on the heels of the Batman reboot Batman Begins and the Star Wars prequels.
- The four year hiatus between the release of Die Another Day and Casino Royale is the second longest gap between Bond films since the series first started in 1962. The 6 years between the release of Licence to Kill and GoldenEye still holds that dubious record.
- First James Bond movie to be based on a full Ian Fleming novel since Moonraker, a gap of 27 years. It was also the first time since The Living Daylights that a James Bond movie has used an original Ian Fleming title.
- This is the first EON Productions official James Bond movie to pretty much utilize all the main characters from an original Ian Fleming James Bond novel since Live and Let Die.
- Although Casino Royale is technically the Bond movie with the longest running time at 144 minutes, if you remove the end titles, it still falls a minute or two short. On Her Majesty's Secret Service is still the longest film in the series as far as actual screen time is concerned, even with it's own end titles removed.
- A published report by BSkyB in early 2003 indicated that Sean Connery was among those being considered to direct the film.
- During 2004, director Quentin Tarantino's planned adaptation of Casino Royale would have been set in a "out of continuity" universe. He claimed his treatment for the movie would have starred then former Bond Pierce Brosnan as Bond, filmed in black and white, with no classic John Barry theme, no opening title credits, or the familiar one-liners and used voice over narration in order to incorporate Fleming's text. The movie would have been more film noir, set firmly in the cold war era, the time Ian Fleming wrote about. After Brosnan presented and EON rejected their project, Tarantino very publicly berated the producers. He also stated in interviews that they were not planning to film the movie despite having the rights, claiming that it was "unfilmable", that they only changed their minds that perhaps it was filmable after all when he and Brosnan made their proposal, and that they at least owed him a "thank you". The truth is EON would not have been able to hire Tarantino as he refuses to join the Directors Guild which with the studio is committed to work with, and it's doubtful the Guild would have been willing to grant a waiver. Tarantino will never be able to develop any Bond project on his own, as he does not have any rights to the character.
- Director Martin Campbell claimed in an interview that the only reason he agreed to direct was because he had no other projects in development. He had previously directed Pierce Brosnan's 1995 debut, GoldenEye.
- Although Judi Dench as M doesn't really sit with the chronology of a re-booted James Bond, Martin Campbell was very keen to have her on board as he really admired what she had done with the character.
- Daniel Craig quit smoking and had Simon Waterson as a personal trainer to get into shape. He gained 20 pounds of muscle for the role.
- Much ado was made at the film's release about Craig's buff body. Being in such prime condition was not new to the actor, as at one point he had been a semi-professional rugby player.
- Craig's first day of shooting was the scene where Bond storms the African embassy.
- Craig claimed to be in a state of pain for most of the shoot because of all the vigorous stunts he was required to perform.
- According to Craig, the only CGI in the film was to erase safety wires in a lot of the stunt sequences and to integrate the models for the sinking palazzo into the real Venetian location.
- During production, controversy erupted amongst some fans on the internet and the British press regarding the casting of Daniel Craig, a blond James Bond. Since then, Craig has often had the nickname of "James Blond" due to his lighter color hair which is markedly different than Bond's usual dark hair. His hair color and general appearance was a key point of the contentiousness led by a small band of vocal "fans" who supported Brosnan and called for boycotts of the film. The British tabloid Daily Mirror, apparently unhappy with Craig's one word answers during his press conference, stated that Craig "showed none of 007's charm and charisma. Unlike the debonair actors before him, he gave one-word answers to questions, looked uncomfortable, and chewed gum during a meeting with the world's press in London", coined another phrase in "James Bland".
- While on the set, Eva Green was approached by producers of The Golden Compass and offered the role of Serafina Pekkala, which she accepted. Daniel Craig also starred in the film, although their characters had no interaction.
- First James Bond movie in the EON Productions official series not to have a major pre-credits action stunt sequence since The Man with the Golden Gun.
- The black-and-white opening of the film was an idea of Director of Photography Phil Meheux, who conceived it so as to give a surprise to viewers as well as a nod to The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Reflections in a Golden Eye. The opening sequence required six thousand feet (one hour and six minute's worth, at 24 fps) of Eastman Double-X 5222 black-and-white negative film. At the time of its release, this movie is the only James Bond film in the official series to have a significant sequence filmed in black and white. However, some of the shots of James Bond in the gun-barrel sequences in the early films were in black-and-white. Moreover, the 1954 James Bond TV episode Casino Royale is completely in black-and-white.
- First Eon Productions James Bond film in the official Series to mark a number of firsts for the series: First to have a major black and white sequence; first not to feature the Miss Moneypenny character nor the gun barrel walk; first to have the gun barrel sequence start after the opening sequence and not before; first to have a radically different opening gun barrel sequence - the graphics of the gun barrel view are markedly different; first to have a significant animated opening sequence since Dr. No; first EON Productions James Bond movie not to feature the Q character since Live and Let Die; first James Bond movie in the EON Productions official series where the movie ends with James Bond alone and without a leading Bond Girl with him.
- The first time in a Bond film that two Bond girls (Aki, Helga Brandt) die since You Only Live Twice. And it's the first Bond movie since On Her Majesty's Secret Service where the main central love interest dies at the end of the movie, as in the original novel.
- Le Chiffre is the first leading Bond villain in the EON Productions series to die but not by the hand of James Bond, a Bond Girl or Bond ally. Nor are any directly involved with events that lead to his death. Indeed like with the original Ian Fleming novel, Le Chiffre is the first major villain (i.e. not including henchmen) in the series to be killed by his own people. Moreover, in scriptwriting terms, Le Chiffre is also the first major villain in the official James Bond series to be killed before the final third act (Le Chiffre dies at around the end of the movie's second act).
- Le Chiffre is the first leading Bond villain in the EON Productions official series to have not one but two readily apparent physical dysfunctions. He has an inhaler for breathing which is a character trait from the original Ian Fleming novel but he also has tear ducts that weep blood. This bleeding of the eye is actually a real medical condition which is known as haemolacria. This usually manifests itself as either partially blood-tinged tears which are part tears/ part blood or as full blood-drops. Haemolacria can be an indicator of a tumor in the lacrimal apparatus of the brain and can also be an indicator of variety of other diseases.
- A video podcast with shooting updates was available during production- making it the first James Bond movie to do this.
- The camp in Uganda where we first meet Mr White (Jesper Christensen) and Le Chiffre was actually filmed just outside of London.
- South Africa was originally scheduled as a filming location for the movie. A James Bond movie had never lensed in this country before. Scheduling difficulties and the inability to secure shooting locations in the southern hemisphere country meant that the location had to be scrapped.
- There is a story visible on Le Chiffre's computer on the same page that has the story of Bond's latest mission at the Embassy. It states that a French football player called Neil Pinkawa has stated he is not retiring from the national soccer team. Neil Pinkawa is in fact Casino Royale's lead screen graphics artist, who would have been in charge of creating all of the mock web pages in the film.
- M's sleeping "husband" was actually the film's transport coordinator.
- This is only the second time that an M character's home has been shown in an official EON Productions James Bond film. The first was in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
- Poker playing was common amongst cast and crew on the set, even after production had wrapped. This however is not new for a James Bond movie. Sir Roger Moore and Cubby played and bet on backgammon during breaks in filming. Many of the James Bond movies have been known to have cast and crew participate in some high-stakes gambling.
- Daniel Craig's suits and tuxedos were made by Italian fashion house Brioni (their logo can briefly be seen on the suit bag for the tuxedo that Vesper gives him). His shirts and neckties were made by the British company Turnbull and Asser. In addition, he wears a sunglasses by Persol, cufflinks by S.T. Dupont, braces/suspenders by Albert Thurston, polos & t-shirts by Sunspel, shoes by Converse, John Lobb, & Nike, Ted Baker pants, La Perla swim trunks, and an Omega wristwatch. Brioni also dressed every player at the Casino Royale poker table, and the ones worn by Bond are rumored to have cost $6,000 each.
- The brown leather jacket worn by Daniel Craig in Miami was made by Giorgio Armani and was rumored to cost $4,000 US each.
- The three-piece suit worn by Bond at the end of the film is a navy version of the gray suit worn by Sean Connery in Goldfinger.
- Vesper's purple evening gown was made by Roberto Cavalli, while her black one was by Versace. In addition, she wears Versace 4061 sunglasses in Venice, and her unique Algerian love knot necklace was made by Sophie Harley. She also wears Melograno perfume by Santa Maria Novella. Valenka (Le Chiffre's girlfriend) wears a Versace swimsuit and an evening gown by Roberto Cavalli. Solange (Dimitrios' wife) wears a green La Perla bikini and an orange evening dress by Jenny Packham.
- James Ferguson, a physician in Aberdeen, Scotland, came up with the idea for the scene in which Bond is poisoned and is remotely diagnosed by MI6 experts. He is a Bond fan, and has been retained as a medical adviser on future Bond films.
- Producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson mandated to the films writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade that two particular story elements from the original Ian Fleming novel must be included in the film's screenplay: the first was the torture of James Bond by Le Chiffre and the second was the novel's final line where James Bond says, "The bitch is dead".
- Writer Paul Haggis's main contribution was to rewrite the climax of the film.
- The producers did not like the final scene in the novel as it was too melodramatic and opted for a more cinematic finale as in the movie. This involves changing Vesper's death scene. In the novel, she commits suicide through sleeping pill overdose.
- Second consecutive James Bond movie where a female character is revealed to be a double agent.
- Third consecutive movie in the series where James Bond is tortured. In The World Is Not Enough, he was tortured in a chair with tightening screws. In Die Another Day he was tortured during the opening scenes whilst in a Korean prison and in this film he is tortured by Le Chiffre adapted from the classic sequence in the original Ian Fleming novel where Le Chiffre tortures Bond with a carpet beater. In the film Le Chiffre uses a knotted rope.
- One week after filming was completed, the 007 Stage at Pinewood Studios burnt down on 30 July 2006. This was the second time this had happened, the first being before filming on A View to a Kill. The filmmakers had just finished using the stage for filming interiors set in Venice for the movie.
THE OPENING CREDITS-
- Title designer Daniel Kleinman was inspired by the cover of the 1953 first edition of the original novel, which featured Ian Fleming's design of a playing card bordered by eight red hearts dripping in blood.
- It was a conscious decision to leave the semi-naked girls out of the opening credits as the James Bond persona is not effectively established until the end of the movie.
- During the opening credits animation, there is a quick shot of Vesper's face on a card that is a combination of the queen of hearts and the queen of spades. This is a foreshadowing of the plot: the queen of hearts is a symbol of love, and James Bond falls in love with her; the queen of spades (also known as "the bitch" is some card games, such as Hearts) is a symbol of bad luck, and Vesper betrays James.
- In the opening sequence the shape that clubs symbol "grows" into is called a Mandelbrot Set in Chaos Theory. It has infinite complexity.
BAHAMAS YES, MIAMI NO-
- The opening parkour chase took 6 weeks to film. This marks the first time there is a foot chase in a Bond film.
- The location used in the Bahamas as the Madagascar Construction site was an abandoned hotel site at Coral Harbour that was under construction 30 years ago. It was used to film hotel rooms for the 1965 James Bond movie Thunderball and it was also used for the 1977 Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me as a camera platform with models and workshops. It is now part of a military base.
- The Free Running/Parkour sequence at the construction site was inspired by an edited-out roof-top chase sequence from the earlier James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Quantum of Solace, this movie's direct follow-up, actually contains a real roof-top chase sequence. Such as it is now, both movies reference On Her Majesty's Secret Service in some way.
- On the Mi6 Intellgience Intranet, the names of the deceased villains who were known associates of Dimitrios were Vanya Bor, Heni Marville-Beau and Izzie Sawakowa.
- Second official EON Productions James Bond movie to feature a casino in the Bahamas. The first was Thunderball.
- The Ocean Club is a real hotel located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.
- For Daniel Craig's now iconic scene where he rises out of the sea in a pair of blue LaPerla Speedos, many of the crew were out of camera range in boats fending off the paparazzi.
- During the Bahamas horse riding sequence, Caterina Murino was having leg pain, and the the filmmakers were thinking using a stunt double for that sequence. But Murino insisted doing the scene without body doubles, saying that it would turn out to be her "classic Bond Girl" moment.
- The tiny model car attached to the key chain of Alex Dimitrios' during the poker game is the Aston-Martin DB9 that Bond is issued later in the film, and not the same Aston Martin that he wins.
- The Bahamas sequence where James Bond beats Alex Dimitrios at poker and wins the keys to his Aston Martin is not actually taken from the Casino Royale novel, but rather from the novel version of Goldfinger.
- The Bodyworks exhibition in Miami was actually shot on a very cold night in Prague.
- The number on Dimitrios' key ring he left at the Bodyworks was 53. 1953 was the year of release for the original Ian Fleming source novel, and the magazine Playboy, a publication which has a long associated history with the James Bond film series. Furthermore, this film version was released 53 years after the novel's first publication.
- The chase around Miami International airport was never actually filmed in Miami, but instead at three separate airports in three different countries. They were: Nassau International Airport in Nassau, New Providence Island, The Bahamas; Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Dunsfold Park, Dunsfold, Surrey, England and Ruzyne International Airport in Ruzyne, Prague, Czech Republic.
AT CASINO ROYALE-
- Daniel Craig as James Bond uses a Walther P99 pistol in this movie. It's not the first time he's used it. In "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider", Craig used one in the "Tomb of the Dancing Light". The holster in which Bond conceals his Walther P99 sidearm in is a Vega IB339 Inside-the-Waistband (or IWB) holster.
- Vesper Lynd's official job was that of International Liaison Officer for the Financial Action Task Force of HM Treasury. Her work address was 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ. Like the use of the real Vauxhall Cross address of Mi6 in the Bond films of the last decade, this is the real address of Her Majesty's Treasury.
- Vesper's first line in the film is "I'm the money," to which Bond replies "every penny of it." This may be a reference to the character of Ms. Moneypenny, who was not included in this film.
- The wine that Vesper Lynd and Bond drink on the train to Montenegro is a bottle of Château Angélus, Premier Grand Cru Classé Saint-Émilion. Bond is also seen on the train to Montenegro with a glass of whiskey.
- James Bond's alias in this movie was Arlington Beech. His pretend alias for Vesper Lynd was Stephanie Broadchest, a typical Ian Flemingesque name moniker.
- The scene where Bond comforts a distraught Vesper in the shower after she's witnessed her first death was shot in one take. Vesper was originally scripted to be wearing nothing but her underwear. Daniel Craig argued that Vesper would not have stopped to take her clothes off, and the scene was changed.
- To prepare for the filming of the Texas Hold 'Em poker card games including the main card game at the Casino Royale, for homework director Martin Campbell watched such classic card games movies as The Sting, Maverick, and The Cincinnati Kid.
- The poker games at Casino Royale which take up the latter half of the film were shot in 9 days.
- The poker cards, chips, and plaques featured in the movie were manufactured by Cartamundi. Poker sets of cards & chips that are replicas of the movie props are available from Cartamundi.
- Although the password that James Bond enters on the alpha-numeric keypad at the Casino Royale was supposed to be VESPER (837737), the password Bond enters is 836547.
- When Bond is poisoned in this movie, at one point, the heart monitoring machine actually indicates that his heart has stopped beating. Technically, he dies before he is resuscitated. As such, this is the first instance in an official James Bond film that the James Bond character literally dies and then lives for a second time, as per the Ian Fleming haiku and novel & film title "You Only Live Twice". Fleming's haiku reads: "You only live twice. Once when you are born. And once when you look death in the face." He wrote it after suffering and surviving his first major heart attack.
- This movie features the famous scene of Le Chiffre (played by Mads Mikkelsen) torturing James Bond in a chair. However, it is in the film Exit that the tables are turned and Mikkelsen's character Thomas Skepphult is the one who is tortured in a chair. Ironically, Exit premiered just a few months before this film.
VENICE AND SINKING HOUSES-
- Venice is a major setting in this movie and it's the third time for it to do so in the EON Productions official James Bond series. The others were From Russia with Love and Moonraker. However, it was never a setting in the original Ian Fleming novels of any of these three movies. The only time it has been a setting in an Ian Fleming James Bond adventure was in the short story "Risico" from the "For Your Eyes Only" collection.
- Authorities in Venice granted producers permission to sail James Bond's yacht, called Spirit 54, along the Grand Canal between the Accademia and Rialto bridges. No-one can remember exactly the last time a pleasure yacht sailed in the Grand Canal, but it's believed to have been several centuries ago.
- James Bond's letter of resignation via the Mi6 intelligence intranet read: "M I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect. Sincerely, James Bond". This is the third James Bond movie where James Bond has resigned. The first was On Her Majesty's Secret Service and the second was Licence to Kill. In the latter, his license to kill was revoked and in Die Another Day he was temporarily decommissioned.
- When Bond sends his resignation letter there are several e-mail addresses are seen in his e-mail client. These addresses contain names of computers related personnel involved in making of the film (Anne Bennett, Chris McBride, Robert Wright, etc.).
- The idea of the Palazzo sinking house was a concept conceived by writers Neal Purvis and Robert Wade who had seen coverage of the leaning Tower of Pisa stabilized in its footings propped up by gigantic bladders full of air. They also conceived the concept of the bleeding eye for villain Le Chiffre.
- The climatic Venice sinking sequence took three weeks of filming with an average of nine hours per day.
- The set interior of the sinking house in Venice measured 45 ft by 40 ft and was 45 ft high. It was built around the existing indoor tank at Pinewood Studios which was increased to 20 ft so the whole set could sink 16 ft. It was based on the interior of the Hotel Danieli in Venice which had appeared in the earlier James Bond movie Moonraker.
- The interiors of the Venetian sinking house were a rig built at the Paddock Tank at Pinewood Studios and it could be immersed in nineteen feet of water. It weighed 90 tons and used a mixture of hydraulics and electronics. A computer controlled the hydraulic valves as well as a third scale model of the building which was used for shooting exteriors. Water was pushed upwards by banks of compressors controlled by technicians. It was not actors but crew who for once were the ones responsible for bringing the house down.
- The sinking house is not just a fantasy piece. In reality, buildings in Venice can actually give away and sink into canals.
VISIBLE ASTON MARTINS AND OTHER VEHICLES-
- Vehicles featured in the film include the new DBR9 Aston Le Mans racer based casino ice 2007 Aston Martin DBS; a silver birch Aston Martin DB5; a 2007 Mk IV Ford Mondeo car; a Fiat Ferroviaria/Alstom Pendolino CD 680 tilting train; a DeHavilland Canada Twin Otter seaplane; a "Spirit 54" Spirit Yacht; Sunseeker boats including an XS 2000, a Sportsfish 37 and Le Chiffres' Predator 108 yacht; a bendy articulated bus; a Texron fuel truck oil tanker; Miami Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor cars; cranes; a Fiat W190 bulldozer; a Notar MD-600N helicopter; Range Rover and Land Rover Defender; Jaguars, Lincolns & Volvos; a Skyfleet S570 prototype airplane and a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600.
- As the DBS was still in its final design phase, therefore no working car was ready for use, filmmakers had to rely on test prototypes of DB9 that were dressed up to look like the DBS for the car roll sequence.
- In one afternoon's shooting, three Aston Martin DBS cars valued at $300,000 each were destroyed for the car roll sequence.
- The license plate number of James Bond's silver birch 1964 Aston Martin DB5 is 56526. The car from Goldfinger and Thunderball, has the wheel on the right side and in this movie is on the left side.
- The car barrel-roll stunt by the Aston Martin DBS in Montenegro broke the world record for the most barrel rolls assisted by a cannon. Originally, the racing specifications of the DBS meant that a standard ramp would not be sufficient to get the car to roll, so the special effects team were called in to install a air-powered cannon behind the drivers seat. This allowed the car to complete seven full rolls. The stunt was officially entered into the Guinness Book of World Records on 5th November 2006.
- Most of the cars seen in the movie are made by Ford Motor Company. In the scene where Bond acts as a valet the cars in the parking lot are Land Rovers, Volvos, Jaguars and other Ford Motor Company's cars.
- The 2007 Ford Mondeo sport model used in the beginning of the film is a special, one-off hand-built prototype vehicle, constructed by hand at Ford of Europe's Design Studio in Cologne, Germany, in January, 2006 and shipped to the Bahamas in secrecy for shooting. Actual production was due to start in the second quarter of 2007.
- The Skyfleet S570 prototype at Miami International Airport is meant to be a spoof of the new Airbus A380. The S570 was built off an old 747-200, which was originally used by British Airways (under the designation "G-BDXJ"), and had flown for both European Aircharter and Air Atlanta Europe before being retired from service. It was refitted with two mock-up engines on each inner pylon and external fuel tanks on the outer pylons, somewhat anachronistically resembling a B-52 Stratofortress.
PROMOTIONAL NOTES-
- As of 2007, the highest-grossing movie of the Bond-franchise.
- The movie was delivered to some theaters under the codename "Rough Skins", and to others under the codename "Change At Midnight".
- Sir Roger Moore was reportedly so impressed with the film that he went out and bought a DVD copy of it.
- The film's Royal World Premiere was held on Tuesday 14th November 2006 at London's Odeon Leicester Square Theatre in the presence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of England. The Gala Charity Premiere Benefit was also the 60th Royal Film Performance and was held in aid of the Film & Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF).
- The first EON Productions James Bond movie to feature the Columbia Pictures logo. Ironically, in 1967, Columbia Pictures produced the James Bond spoof Casino Royale and was attempting to remake the film before it took over MGM.
- Changes in some regions' release-dates meant that some territories had this movie released in the year 2007, thereby supplying fans and some publicists a once-in-a-millennium marketing dream, to see a James Bond movie in the year Two Double-O Seven.
- Most BAFTA Award nominations ever received by a Bond movie, totaling nine. The previous record had been two each for GoldenEye and The Spy Who Loved Me. The 9 Nominations were for Best British Film, Adapted Screenplay, Actor in a Leading Role, Film Music, Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Sound and Special Visual Effects. It only won best sound. Craig became the first actor to ever be nominated for a BAFTA for playing James Bond.
- First James Bond film approved by Chinese censors. All other films in the series were available in China only as illegal bootlegs. Daniel Craig was once offered one such copy whilst walking anonymously through the streets of Beijing.
- A mere two days after the premiere, pirated copies were already on sale in London.
- Product placements and promotional tie-ins seen in the movie included Virgin Airlines including a Richard Branson cameo; Heineken Beer; Sony Ericsson K800 and K790 camera phones; Sony Electronics including Blu-Ray HD players, discs, & security system; Sony HD5 MP3 player, LCDs & computers such as the VAIO Laptop; Ford Automobiles including Mondeo, Range Rover and Land Rover Defender, Jaguar, Lincoln, Volvo, and the Aston Martin DB5 & DBS; FedEx Freight; Château Angélus; Cybershot Digital Cameras; M's Turnbull & Asser pajamas; Omega Seamster Watches, James Bond wears a Black Seamaster Co-Axial Planet Ocean and a Omega Seamseter Diver 300M; Smirnoff Vodka; and Bollinger Champagne.
- Since MGM is part of Columbia Pictures and owned by Sony, the company managed to promote some of its products in the film. The notebook that Daniel Craig uses is a VAIO FG series notebook, Vesper's hand phone is a Sony Ericsson M600i model, Bond uses the K800i model (the best hand-phone of 2006 besides Nokia N93). Jeffrey Wright and Eva Green also used a Cybershot T-50 digital camera (contains a touch screen manipulation feature). Also, this is the first movie to feature the new Sony high definition format: you can clearly see a Bluray recorder in the surveillance video room where Bond infiltrates.
- Product placement was deliberately scaled back following the criticism leveled at the previous Bond entry Die Another Day which earned itself the nickname "Buy Another Day".
- A promotional leaflet used to promote the film in Japan headlined the "Seven rules to receive 00 status". The Mi6 Fansite have it translated as: "1) You don't fear death, and won't give into torture 2) You have Olympic level shooting skills 3) Even if you double-cross your own parents, you will never double-cross the organization 4) You have knowledge that would surprise even a scholar, and a sense of humor that would make even a bad girl grin 5) You have the sociability of a lamb, but remain a lone wolf 6) You have the highest level of experience with alcohol, gambling, cars and food 7) You can fall in love but you can never love."
- Adjusted for inflation, Casino Royale is the 5th most financially successful of the James Bond films, behind Thunderball, Goldfinger, You Only Live Twice and The Spy Who Loved Me.
- The region 1 Blu-ray disc became the highest selling high definition title to date, selling more than 100,000 copies.
MUSIC AND GAMING NOTES-
- Internet buzz favored Goldfrapp providing the title song before Chris Cornell was announced as the singer.
- This is the fifth EON Productions Bond movie not to mention the film's name in a song during the opening title sequence. The others were the James Bond theme (Dr. No), From Russia with Love, On Her Majesty's Secret Service (instrumental) and Octopussy ("All Time High"). Note that the lyrics "From Russia With Love" are not heard during the opening titles of that movie as the instrumental not vocal version of the song is heard.
- The title song "You Know My Name" is the first theme song since the earlier James Bond movie Octopussy to have a different song title to that of the film. David Arnold and Chris Cornell found the Casino Royale title to be problematic and requested that their song would not be forced to us it. Chris Cornell is the first male singer to perform the James Bond title song since A-Ha in The Living Daylights and Duran Duran in A View to a Kill. He is the first American male singer to perform a James Bond opening credits song.
- Chris Cornell has said inspirations for writing the song "You Know My Name" came from Paul McCartney's theme for Live and Let Die, John Barry's theme for Thunderball as sung by Tom Jones, and from Daniel Craig himself after watching early rushes of Craig in action during filming.
- "You Know My Name" debuted in the US Charts on December 9. 2006 where it went to the No. #79 spot. The song does not appear on the film's soundtrack. This is the first time in the history of the official series that the title song has not been included on the soundtrack. Chris Cornell, who had written the song lyrics and half of the music with Arnold, had negotiated the majority rights and decided that he liked the song so much that he wanted to issue it on his own label and use it on his new album "Carry On" which he was also working on and recording at that time. Subsequent Bond music compilation albums have featured the more orchestral film version of the song.
- Though the iconic James Bond theme is not fully heard until the final scene of the film, a few bars of it can be heard faintly at the end of the scene where Bond wins Dimitrios' vintage Aston Martin while playing poker, and when Bond's plane is first landing in the Bahamas. According to David Arnold in the Jon Burlingame "Music Of James Bond" book, the idea was deliberate. After testing the theme against key moments in the film when he would have used it for a regular type of adventure, he stated that "it dissolved any sense of danger, any sense that there was really anything going wrong. The other argument was that he's not "James Bond" yet (the idea of the movie was to build to that moment), so why are we playing the theme?". In response to the concept, Bond theme writer Monty Norman reflected that he thought "Arnold did an excellent job of teasing the theme throughout the film and finally arranging a terrific version as the climax. (However) the subtlety of the idea eluded quite a few people". Sean Connery was one of those, noting in 2008 "I did have one reservation. They sort of diluted the Bond musical theme, which you only hear at the very end. When I heard it, I thought, 'Oh, that's what I've been missing'".
FLEMING AND OTHER REFERENCES-
- Ian Fleming started writing the first ever James Bond novel Casino Royale on his Imperial typewriter at his home "Goldeneye", Jamaica between January 15-17, 1952 and completed it on Tuesday 18th March 1952. Dr. No began filming almost exactly ten years later on January 16, 1962.
- Ian Fleming celebrated the completion of his Casino Royale novel's first draft by purchasing a gold-plated typewriter. Pierce Brosnan reportedly bought the typewriter a few years ago for $52,000 U.S.
- The first lines of the original Ian Fleming novel read: "The scent and smoke and sweat of a casino are nauseating at three in the morning." The last lines read: "This is 007 speaking. This is an open line. It's an emergency. Can you hear me? Pass this on at once. 3030 was a double, working for Redland. 'Yes, dammit, I said "was". The bitch is dead now."
- Ian Fleming once said on writing the novel: "Writing about 2,000 words in three hours every morning, Casino Royale dutifully produced itself. I wrote nothing and made no corrections until the book was finished. If I had looked back at what I had written the day before, I might have despaired."
- Characters that appear in this film who were in the original Casino Royale novel include James Bond, Vesper Lynd, M, Le Chiffre, Rene Mathis, Felix Leiter and Gettler, the latter of whom was more fully known as Adolph Gettler in the novel. Characters from this film that return in this movie's direct sequel Quantum of Solace include James Bond, M, Felix Leiter, Rene Mathis and Mr. White. Characters from this film that are referred to in Quantum of Solace include Le Chiffre and Vesper Lynd.
- Ian Fleming based the character Vesper Lynd on prominent WW2 resistance fighter Christine Granville (1915-1952) whom he met briefly in real-life. Apparently, she was nicknamed Vesperale and allegedly the two had an affair.
- This film replaces the high-stakes casino game of Baccarat/ Chemin de Fer from the novel with the modern high-stakes card game of Texas Hold 'Em (also spelled Texas Hold'em or Texas Holdem). Interestingly, in this game, a hand with a pair of eights is called an "Octopussy", the name of both a James Bond short story and movie. A hand with a pair of eights is actually seen in the movie.
- The Casino Estoril of Lisbon, Portugal was the inspiration for the casino gambling scene and title from the novel. Lisbon was then known as "the espionage capital of the world", and this was a location where both Allied and Axis agents would frequent during World War II. On his visit, Fleming bancoed three times and lost three times, yet little did he know that his future James Bond novel title would be made as a movie three times.
- The Casino Royale was located in France in the original novel, it being set in the fictional French resort town of Royale-les-Eaux. The 2006 film is set in Montenegro. The former Kaiserbad Spa, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic provided its location exterior.
- The way Bond orders his first vodka martini is lifted directly from the Ian Fleming novels.
- The "Vesper" that James Bond orders at Casino Royale is taken from the novel. It consists of three parts gin (Gordon's was Bond's choice), one part vodka (Bond preferred a grain vodka be used; e.g. Absolut) and half part of Kina Lillet. The ingredients are shaken over ice until cold, served in a cocktail glass with a slice of lemon peel for garnish. Kina Lillet has not been made since 1985 and the modern substitute would be Lillet Blanc, made by the same company, Lillet, based in Podensac, France. This also creates somewhat of an anachronism as the film adaptation of "Casino Royale" is clearly set in the present, where Kina Lillet would no longer be available.
- Ian Fleming received three offers for the film rights to his novel during 1954. Producer/director Gregory Ratoff bought the rights to the novel in May 1954 for $600. It was a six month option and Ratoff took this to CBS whom produced and broadcast this one hour episode for Climax! shown that year, with American Barry Nelson playing "Jimmy Bond". CBS then purchased the rights to the novel from Ratoff for $1000. John Shepridge negotiated the sale of the film and television rights in 1954. Before the sale, the novel had not been successful, and was even retitled and Americanized for its paperback issue. Fleming also needed money. Twelve months later, and after the TV screening, Ratoff bought Casino Royale outright in perpetuity for an additional $6000. Both sales including the option and the buy-out are considered to have been sold too cheaply and were two sales that Ian Fleming later regretted. With the money from the larger sale, Ian Fleming bought a Thunderbird car at the cost of £3000. Gregory Ratoff passed away on 14 December 1960. His widow in 1961 sold the rights to Charles K. Feldman for $75,000. Feldman would go on to make the 1967 spoof of Casino Royale and it would not be made as an EON Productions film for almost another forty years.
CAMEOS-
Tsai Chin: As Madame Wu, seen on LeChiffre's yacht and at the card table at Casino Royale. She has the second longest ever gap between appearances in Bond movies. She played Ling, the girl who helps set up Bond's 'death' in You Only Live Twice, thirty-nine years earlier.
Diane Hartford: who features as Card Player #3 in the credits has the longest ever gap between appearances in Bond movies. She had three lines playing a girl in the Kiss Kiss Club in Thunderball forty one years before.
Michael G. Wilson: As the Montenegro Police Chief who is set up by Mathis.
Alessandra Ambrosio: The supermodel from Brazil is seen at the Ocean Club when James Bond arrives in the Bahamas. She is credited as Tennis Girl #1.
Phil Meheux: The film's director of photography appears as a bureaucrat from H.M. Treasury in M's office.
Carlos Leal: The Sens Unik rapper as a tournament director.
Veruschka von Lehndorff: The sixties model, actress and artist as Gräfin von Wallenstein, seen at the Casino Royale.
Richard Branson: The Virgin Airlines boss as a man at airport security. When British Airways showed the film on their airline, they blurred out the tail showing the Virgin Atlantic logo and cut Branson's cameo.
Gunther von Hagens: The creator of the Body Worlds exhibit can be heard and his trademark black hat seen - but not his face - during the sequence where Bond stabd Dimitrios to death in front of one of von Hagens' displays.
Martin Campbell: the tanker truck driver murdered by Carlos the terrorist at Miami Airport.
1. Think back to October 14, 2005 when Daniel Craig was officially and controversially announced as the 6th actor to play James Bond. Were you for the decision, against the decision, or did you decide to wait and see him in the role before you passed judgment. Please explain your answer as well.
2. Regarding his inspiration for the characterization of Bond, Daniel Craig stated "“Sean Connery set and defined the character. He did something extraordinary with that role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and stylish, and it is because of him I am here today. I wanted Sean Connery’s approval and he sent me messages of support, which meant a lot to me.” For you, has he succeeded in realizing his ideal of Connery, or does he still need to do more to reach his goal?
3. Assuming you were familiar with the original Fleming novel, was the cinematic version above, below, or at your level of expectation? Please explain why.
4. The eternal debate regarding the film and it's sequel is, is it strictly a "reboot" that launches a new era and dismisses the prior films and timeline, or an "origin" adventure that resumes the timeline in 2012 with Skyfall?
5. Did the noticeable lack of the Bond theme in the film bother you, or did you get the concept of giving little hints at it when the rookie does something Bondian until the end, where the Bond we know emerges triumphant?
2. No one has ever reached, or is ever likely to reach, the ideal of Connery. That is not to insult Craig's performance in the slightest, as I firmly believe he is the closest thing the franchise has seen to Connery since 1971 (or even 1967, if you're feeling vicious). His performance as Bond is truly excellent.
3. Not familiar with the novel (I know, I know), so can't comment.
4. I believe that the first three films constitute an origin story, although I am entirely aware of the continuity problems posed by this interpretation. However, continuity had been almost entirely nonexistent prior to Casino Royale, so what's one more set of problems? I hold this position mostly because having two separate timelines makes me feel like I have to choose between two sets of Bond and thereby deny one or the other, something I am unwilling to do. Thus, I shoehorn the Craig films (at least through Skyfall) in before Dr. No.
5. The lack of the Bond theme in this film does not bother me, much like the gun barrel change. Of course, these two changes would wear out their welcome in Quantum of Solace before improving slightly (though still in need of restoration) in Skyfall.
1. Blond bond? Short as well?? I was thinking this is the end. But Dan delivered.
2. Dan is his own Bond, has been since the first flick.
3. It exceeded my expectations, except for the 'poker' nonsense.
4. All new; total reboot.
5. It bothered me until the end where I saw the point.
1 Craig was my favourite to take over as soon as he was mentioned. I had seen him only in Layer Cake, but thought he was perfect for Bond.
2 Craig does not need to feel inferior to any other Bond, including King Sean.
3 It was even better than I imagined. I was surprised that Campbell could deliver this good a movie, considering the drivel he had given us 11 years before. Obviously not his fault.
4 Fresh start, even more so than all the previous semi-reboots.
5 It totally paid off. I cannot remember being so elevated walking out from a Bond before, with that perfect rendition blaring out.
2. Whatever the intentions were, whatever goals he set for himself, he smashed them. Even I was surprised at just how good he was as Bond.
3. Exceeded all expectations. I had wondered how much of the novel would actually appear in the film so I was delighted for the major characters and the main plot points to be included.
4. I saw CR as a clean slate. A complete re-boot.
5. CR is Arnold's best score by a mile. His use (or lack of) the Bond theme works a treat, with just a few bars here and there (most notably when Bond is trying on his tux). When the Bond theme is finally played out in all it's glory at the end of the film, it really is triumphant. (I gave myself a Tim Henman-esq fist pump on leaving the cinema the first time).
2) Oh yes, he has succeeded. Like Connery before him, Daniel Craig has also done something extraordinary with the role.
3) It was definitely better than I was expecting. I was fine with the changes and additions that were made. It certainly didn't make sense for Bond to be playing baccarat in 2006 for example. I was just delighted to be watching a Bond film that was of such high quality again.
4) Yes, it's a reboot. If you've never seen a Bond film then you could start here but it does reward those who have a deep understanding of the character and the previous films.
5) The lack of the Bond theme did not bother me at all. I was fully on board after the PTS and was fine with this film being different. It was an origin story and he wasn't the James Bond that we knew yet. It made sense to me.
Here is a beautiful photo I found online (at the website of the Palacio Hotel, another Bond reference) which shows the beach and the Casino in the back. Don't be fooled by the beautiful waters, they are usually wildly turbulent and always freezing cold.
Now to the questions:
1. At first I was against it, I told the story several times. My mother, on the contrary, was the voice of reason. I remember she saying that she didn't understand why people complained about his hair colour since Roger Moore was also blond and that she liked the look of Craig. At first I didn't recognize him from the promo photos (terribly done). I started changing my opinion when I saw the wonderful Munich and after a photo on location when he had the cold eyes and cruel mouth described by Fleming.
2. I think he surpassed Connery, something I would never imagined someone would do. Honestly, he had 3 extraordinary performances out of 3 films, what more can I say?
3. I'm not crazy about the film as I have stated before. It has amazing moments but also some cheesy ones. However, the essencial things from the book are there and some were improved because they wouldn't work in a film so I would say that, although the novel is amazing, the adaptation of the material (not the entire film) were above my level of expectation.
4. I hate the atempts at making a timeline. For me it was a reboot in the sense that it showed something that was before every previous Bond film but it didn't necessariloy launch a new era. Therefore I go with the second option.
5. It didn't bother me and I think it is very clear by the spare but increasing use of the theme during the length of the film what David Arnold was trying to say to the audience. I think CR has one of the best scores in the series.
1. Think back to October 14, 2005 when Daniel Craig was officially and controversially announced as the 6th actor to play James Bond. Were you for the decision, against the decision, or did you decide to wait and see him in the role before you passed judgement. Please explain your answer as well.
At that time I was reading the Daily Mirror, and the day after his press call call, they announced Craig as James Bland. I don't read too much into that; I prefer my own interpretations, and when I watched the press call up, I was most intrigued, as noted above, he had the "ironic" and cruel mouth that Fleming described. I did not like his hair, too foppish for me. (Luckily Craig shortened it somewhat, in a style similar to mine, actually...) I was impressed with Craig dedication to Fleming. So bonus points there.
I saw Layer Cake soon after that, I was was impressed; I could see where Barbara Broccoli was coming from. So, I was cautiously optimistic, although I would what until I saw Casino Royale to make my judgement.
"Yes, considerably" sold me on Craig, after that brief PTS. Superb.
2. Regarding his inspiration for the characterization of Bond, Daniel Craig stated "“Sean Connery set and defined the character. He did something extraordinary with that role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and stylish, and it is because of him I am here today. I wanted Sean Connery’s approval and he sent me messages of support, which meant a lot to me.” For you, has he succeeded in realizing his ideal of Connery, or does he still need to do more to reach his goal?
I get what Craig was going for; he has a certain swagger reminiscent of Connery, and in Casino Royale, at least, Craig more than lived up to my expectations, going from rough agent to the complete Bond we know and love.
After that, Craig needs a bit more "gentlemanly conduct" to really cement his version of Bond, and hopefully, we'll see it in Bond 24.
3. Assuming you were familiar with the original Fleming novel, was the cinematic version above, below, or at your level of expectation? Please explain why.
I didn't have any expectations regrading the novel, I read it, of course, but it's been such a long time since the novel, and with it being an origins story, I wasn't sure how they were going to achieve that. Regardless, the movie exceeded my expectations, and then some; I was surprised how loyal it was to the source novel, not only it's content, but also the spirit of Fleming. The only thing I was disappointed about, was the fact that the movie did not follow the ending of the book. I felt that Vesper's overdosing on drugs, would be a nice counterpoint to the explosive action that preceded it.
4. The eternal debate regarding the film and it's sequel is, is it strictly a "reboot" that launches a new era and dismisses the prior films and timeline, or an "origin" adventure that resumes the timeline in 2012 with Skyfall?
Meh, timelines. So, here's how I interpreted it, before Skyfall; CR and QoS were before the rest of the Bond films, and M, well....
After SF. Hmm, I prefer to think of the Bond movies as kinda like the Ancient Greek serpent of Ouroboros; tail devourer, symbolizes the cyclic Nature of the Universe: creation out of destruction, Life out of Death. A never ending circle, or loop. CR, QoS, DN - SF, and back again. That's sorts out Dench's character somewhat. Well maybe. And what of Eve Moneypenny, uhm, a code name, perhaps?
5. Did the noticeable lack of the Bond theme in the film bother you, or did you get the concept of giving little hints at it when the rookie does something Bondian until the end, where the Bond we know emerges triumphant?
The lack of "Bond theme" makes CR unique. Arnold teased the audience throughout the movie, offering tantalising glimpses of Monty's immortal work, and then at the end, heralded by the legendary introduction, "Bond. James Bond", we get the full Bond theme, shivers up the spine time! Bond was officially back baby!
I thought Arnold's reworking of the main titles theme, as almost as a proto Bond theme, fills the gap, left by the "official" theme, quite nicely.
Bravo @SirHenryLeeChaChing on this thread. =D>
"Who would be your ideal Bond girl, Sadie Frost or Sienna Miller?".
It was typical tabloid crap looking for a juicy piece of gossip, which had nothing to do with the reason she was there in the first place. Her response was basically a revenge piece on DC. How stupid she and other journalists must have felt when CR was released to worldwide acclaim.
Actually, it was even earlier for me. When he delivers his first line: "M really doesn't mind you earning a little money on the side Dryden. She'd just prefer it if it wasn't selling secrets" I knew this was going to be a great film.
If you watch the conference back there were many silly questions asked that day for some reason. Fans are the ones that should be invited to ask questions, instead of the many who have no clue.
Yes, it was that question specifically that always sticks in my mind. The look on DC's face when she asked it said it all.
Jack White as well
As much as I love Goldeneye, I always thought Brosnan was a bit wooden (or statuesque if you will!) in that scene. Dalton would have had added more gravitas for sure IMO.
1) As stated in my review, I was a little uncertain about the choice of Craig upon viewing photos of him, but I basically waited to see what he would do with the role before forming any real opinion. I really don't understand why anybody would make up their minds on such a topic before actually seeing what the actor in question could do with the role, but then, I've had a little bit of stage experience so maybe I'm a little more willing to give another actor the benefit of the doubt.
2) Craig has totally succeeded IMHO.
3) Above my expectations. The dynamite intro (from the Parkour scene to the airport bombing attempt) set-up LeChiffre's financial need in a way that the novel did not, making Bond the hero of the story from the very get-go, and the Venice house-sinking gives the story an exciting ending that the novel lacks. Perhaps Vesper's suicide offstage "works" for the original Fleming tale but a movie has very different needs and CR the movie succeeds brilliantly in this regard.
4) I'm perfectly willing to believe that CR and QoS together constitute an origin story, that Bond has had numerous adventures since then, and that Skyfall picks up his saga several years down the road. I note that in SF he has in his storage unit an Aston Martin DB-5 with an ejector seat, machine guns etc. I wonder where THAT came from?
5) I was totally comfortable with the idea of not getting the full-blown theme song until the very end of the movie, when Craig says the iconic line, "Bond. James Bond." for the very first time. Didn't mind where the gunbarrel sequence occurred either.
And so to leave everyone in suspense as to my actual thoughts, there is one point of the novel vs film that I wish to comment on. While the sinking house was a bit out of left field as far as how they offed Vesper, the producers felt the lackluster off screen suicide, which may have been shocking in 1953, was in need of updating and I agreed with the decision 100%. I remember hoping when watching that her death wouldn't be so anti climactic and was glad they took the chance.
I was not familiar with Daniel Craig, so I did not judge him decided then that I would see the movie before passing judgement. However he did not strike me immediately as James Bond 007.
2. Regarding his inspiration for the characterization of Bond, Daniel Craig stated "“Sean Connery set and defined the character. He did something extraordinary with that role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and stylish, and it is because of him I am here today. I wanted Sean Connery’s approval and he sent me messages of support, which meant a lot to me.” For you, has he succeeded in realizing his ideal of Connery, or does he still need to do more to reach his goal?
While DC's 007 movies have been obvious blockbusters they have failed me so far as the magic Sean Connery his movies still are. For me there is no substitute for Sean Connery when it comes to his portrayal.
3. Assuming you were familiar with the original Fleming novel, was the cinematic version above, below, or at your level of expectation? Please explain why.
In the faithfull parts from the novel they did a good job, I did miss the guys with the camera's who attempted to kill 007. Also the death of Vesper in the book had a far more powerfull impact not softened by some bloody sinking house. It still annoys me that actionscene when you have two such obvious acting talents at work. With a toned down ending the movie would have been magic.
4. The eternal debate regarding the film and it's sequel is, is it strictly a "reboot" that launches a new era and dismisses the prior films and timeline, or an "origin" adventure that resumes the timeline in 2012 with Skyfall?
For me the reboot part was annoying, but mostly I ignore the timeline and sit down to enjoy a 007 movie.
5. Did the noticeable lack of the Bond theme in the film bother you, or did you get the concept of giving little hints at it when the rookie does something Bondian until the end, where the Bond we know emerges triumphant?
The music of the movie showed for me the skills of the composer, a free canvas to recreate something special and yet he failed to leave something really memorable. When at the end the (For me, that Monty fellow is a leech imho) John Barry theme sounds it is the first time that you feel that music magic that the Bond movies used to have.
SirHenry, why whatever do you mean?
Anyhoo, here are my answers today:
I feel that I gave a lot of detail and information in my review of CR on this thread. I was highly impressed with the film and with Craig.
1) Unsure but tried to stay openminded until I saw the film. I had only seen him in the 1st Lara Croft film; he was brief in that, but I remember liking him. I didn't like the idea of an actor not looking like my Bond from the books, but I thought okay, I liked him a bit in that one movie, gotta watch him in action first. So a tad skeptical at first, but I had zero opinion on his acting ability because he was an unknown basically to me. So I definitely was not decided against him, just curious and unsure. Then I watched the movie and during PTS I knew. It didn't take longer than that. This guy can act and more than that, he was my Bond. I believed in every bone of my body and beat of my heart that this was Bond. James Bond. Oh yes, considerably.
2) Craig has more than succeeded in making the role his own. He equals Connery for me in charisma, impact, and portrayal of the character - and indeed surpasses him several times, in my opinion. He does not blatantly copy Connery, let me be clear on that. He is his own Bond, has put his own personal stamp on the character.
3) The film is better than the novel. I am glad they gave a different ending to Vesper; it was bland for me, even in the book. I knew that part would not transfer to cinema well. The opening lines of CR the novel are classic, evocative, and perfect (smell of the casino, etc.). I enjoy Fleming's writing very much. I am just saying the film was excellent, true enough to the story, and overall better in my opinion.
4) I don't mess with timelines or think about them much at all. It was the story of early Bond, his origins. I had no problem enjoying the film and its successors on their own merits. M being part of it was no problem, either. I rather think that with Skyfall Bond has had other adventures in between; he is a working agent, right? We get to see glimpses of his world, not everything he does. I agree with Beatles pretty much on how I look at Bond films (timeline wise).
5) I missed the traditional Bond theme in it a bit, but then at the end I could see why they left it till then. So I accepted that, no problem. I enjoy the gun barrell at the beginning, but it was not even consciously part of my thoughts when watching the film; not that important to me as a Bond fan.
1. Having seen DC in Our Friends In The North (a brilliant British TV series) and the first Lara Croft film I realised that he'd been picked for his acting chops, but he just didn't look like Bond, but after the awful DAD I was hoping for a complete change. No Brosnan bashing but I just thought if it is a reboot then you couldn't do it with the same actor.
2. DC has made Bond his own, I don't think you can compare to SC (or any other Bond actor) and I'm quite happy with his version.
3. I think they got most of the elements of the Fleming story and added some really nice bits, the airport action scene is fantastic and most films would be happy with this as the finale. And I'm glad they 'upped' Vespers death from the mild 'off-screen' death of the novel.
4. For me it's a reboot, but that doesn't impact on any of the previous films for me. Don't think you can get tied up with timelines, etc otherwise the character would be about 90 now. Just take each film as it come.
5. Lack of theme didn't bother me as I thought the music was excellent all the way through, with the occasional hint of the Bond theme showing through every now and then and of course with the full theme at the end was just right. Also I loved the credits, for my money the best titles. Ever.
1. I saw Daniel in Lara Croft and at the time thought 'he could be a good Bond'. Then I thought to myself'no, we've got a very good one, it makes no sense' and thought nothing of it. When I heard he would be the next Bond I bought Layer Cake and was not only pleasantly surprised but reminded of the Lara Croft film as well. He seemed to have the right 'rugedness' Fleming descibes which I thought had been missing for such a long time. I never got the negativety either, but I liked DC's response when he claimed it made him more determend to make one hell of a film. He did not dissapoint. the 'considerably'line just oozes Bond.
2. DC for me is far more Flemingesque then any other Bond. Handsome in a thuggish kind of way, honourable, hard, gentilemanlike. Doubtfull too at times, righteous. Did he succeed in bettering Connery? In a way yes.
3. i love the book and the film. The book has some odd, even childish moments (the coloured camera's), the film has some overly filmic elements (the falling house was a tad too much imo. however, it did offer a better suicide for Vesper then the book). For now as it isn't my fav. novel I'll state the film to be better.
4. Well Bond is like Biggles is like Buck Danny. They live in every age at the same age, if you know wht I mean. Was it a reboot? Perhaps, sort of. It was an origins story set in a modern day and age. For me, the idea of all the other adventures falling in between CR and SF works. In that perspective it isn't a 'reboot' at all, just an early story told later.
5. Arnold's choice of teasing the public and ending with what in my opnion is the best rendition ever of the Bond tune works completely.
1. Casino Royale- 4.36
2. Goldfinger- 4.30
3. From Russia With Love- 4.26
4. Skyfall (6/7 reviews)- 4.17
5. The Living Daylights- 4.11
6. Thunderball- 4.09
7. The Spy Who Loved Me- 4.06
8. Licence To Kill- 4.03
9. On Her Majesty's Secret Service- 3.99
10. For Your Eyes Only- 3.91
11. You Only Live Twice- 3.90
12. Live And Let Die- 3.81
13. GoldenEye- 3.80
14. Octopussy- 3.73
15. Tomorrow Never Dies- 3.71
16. Dr. No- 3.57
17. Quantum Of Solace- 3.42
18. A View To A Kill- 3.31
19. The World Is Not Enough- 3.20
20. The Man With The Golden Gun- 3.09
21. Diamonds Are Forever- 2.99
22. Moonraker- 2.96
23. Die Another Day- 2.70
Good morning fellow originals and guests! After @BeatlesSansEarmuffs recent review of Casino Royale came in with a score of 45 out of 50, the rating jumped from 4.33 to 4.36. It is now official- under the scoring system originally established by @NicNac, and later tweaked by myself for this exercise, the film has collectively been rated the #1 Bond film in the franchise by our panel!
My continuous thanks to everyone who has participated in the thesis questions. Participation was WAY UP this week with a record 13 people participating, and the deadline was noted and observed. I was really happy to see all the responses and the nice thank you for the overall thread from @royale65, which also made me really happy! Trivia will continue.
Regarding the polling of the 5 Casino Royale thesis questions, here's this week's consensus-
1. Think back to October 14, 2005 when Daniel Craig was officially and controversially announced as the 6th actor to play James Bond. Were you for the decision, against the decision, or did you decide to wait and see him in the role before you passed judgment. Please explain your answer as well.
7 votes were for waiting to see how Craig would do before passing judgment, and 3 were for his hire. Obviously, the smear campaign did not work to the effect that Brosnan fans and others had intended and just the opposite if anything. To my personal and eternal chagrin, I was against his hire at the time due to his different look, and very pessimistic until the PTS, where like many others he impressed me right away as someone I needed to take seriously. And he did so more and more and he most certainly was James Bond in a manner Fleming would have approved, no matter what he looked like, by film's end.
2. Regarding his inspiration for the characterization of Bond, Daniel Craig stated "“Sean Connery set and defined the character. He did something extraordinary with that role. He was bad, sexy, animalistic and stylish, and it is because of him I am here today. I wanted Sean Connery’s approval and he sent me messages of support, which meant a lot to me.” For you, has he succeeded in realizing his ideal of Connery, or does he still need to do more to reach his goal?
9 out of the 13 respondents said that Craig has succeeded in becoming a great James Bond, and one that owes nothing nor lip service to Sean Connery, he is his own Bond and his own interpretation. I was one of the four in the minority, but not in a bad way. For me he is not as good as Sir Sean, and can still improve in certain areas. But this last film saw him close that gap for me and he has definitely come closer to capturing the cinematic magic of Sean in his sense of the characterization than any Bond that has followed in his most magical footsteps.
3. Assuming you were familiar with the original Fleming novel, was the cinematic version above, below, or at your level of expectation? Please explain why.
Fleming purists take note- you are strongly in the minority according to original and latter era fans. Out of 12 votes from people familiar with the book, 11 felt the properly filmed cinematic version exceeded their expectations. It was especially noted that the sinking house death was better than the overdose and needed to be done. In a way, I could understand the dissenter here, not in the sense than the overdose was fine for this day and age, but for the outlandishness of the idea. That was until I put together the trivia and realized that just like a condemned house on land can collapse, houses in Venice can collapse into the water. Well within the possible has always been the cinematic philosophy of the series, and as this has been established, any doubts I had have been positively resolved.
4. The eternal debate regarding the film and it's sequel is, is it strictly a "reboot" that launches a new era and dismisses the prior films and timeline, or an "origin" adventure that resumes the timeline in 2012 with Skyfall?
By a surprisingly close vote of 7 to 6, the voters deemed the film and it's sequel a reboot. But honestly, there is no right nor wrong answer for this and I'll explain why. One, the producers have called the film both a reboot and an origin story. So if they as the ultimate authority can't answer the question conclusively, how are the fans expected to? There are solid arguments for both, no question. Up until Skyfall, I would have voted reboot. But as @Beatles noted, if this was truly a reboot, the things of the past would not have been acknowledged as readily and unashamedly as they were.
5. Did the noticeable lack of the Bond theme in the film bother you, or did you get the concept of giving little hints at it when the rookie does something Bondian until the end, where the Bond we know emerges triumphant?
By a 9 to 4 margin, the voters seemed to understand what Arnold was doing when they first viewed the film. The occasional subtle hint of the theme as the rookie Bond succeeded was apparent to them and they applauded not only that, but the soundtrack itself. Which I might add was John Barry's view as well. I was in the minority who it finally dawned on in the end that this is what Arnold was doing, but to be fair I was so engrossed in finally seeing a version of the film up to my expectations, and with a new Bond who exceeded them. And what an incredible moment it was, the best rendition since John Barry and it gave me goosebumps that I still get every time I watch it. Arnold has nothing to be ashamed of nor did he miss any opportunity- his music properly paid respect to the legacy of John Barry that a Bond soundtrack should and did not do in 1995, and when the master himself stated that he could not have done a better soundtrack, any arguments against hold no water and are shaky to say the least.
That will wrap up our look back at Casino Royale, and next we will revisit the film's sequel, Quantum Of Solace. It's a sequel well known for it's rushed production and controversial choice of director and style that has given the movie a negative reputation in many quarters, so let's see how @Beatles sees it. Have a great weekend everyone!